Detroit auto show will serve as bellwether for new mobility technology

Future of transportation is talk of this year's
event

New at the North American International Auto Show this year is AutoMobili-D, which features 120,000 square feet of dynamic displays in the Cobo Center Atrium. Attending executives, industry professionals and media will have the opportunity to experience advanced driver assist and autonomous vehicle functionality on a dedicated test track all in one building.

The future of transportation is the talk of this year's
show as the automotive industry embarks on a more virtuous
endeavor than just selling cars.

The automotive industry is embarking on a more virtuous endeavor than just selling cars.

It's still all about selling cars, naturally, but as technology makes transportation more accessible, it's drawing new entrants to the market with pie-in-the-sky plans to save the world.

Dustin Walsh/Crain's Detroit Business

New at the North American International Auto Show this year is AutoMobili-D, which features 120,000 square feet of dynamic displays in the Cobo Center Atrium. Attending executives, industry professionals and media will have the opportunity to experience advanced driver assist and autonomous vehicle functionality on a dedicated test track all in one building.

This is apparent, for this first time, at this year's North American International Auto Show and its new exhibit and seminars called Automobili-D in Cobo Center's Atrium. The annual auto show kicked off Sunday afternoon with Google's Waymo self-driving subsidiary laying out the groundwork of its work — which included footage of the first trip of its car, assembled by Livonia-based Roush Industries, on public roads without engineer intervention. The car has no steering wheel, no gas pedals.

John Krafcik, CEO of Waymo, waxed poetic about transportation as a service, a future where the 1.3 million people who die on global roadways annually wouldn't, household expenses would diminish, emissions would be reduced and access to medicine, health care and water would increase.

The car, one without a driver and service-based, is the next great innovation to change the world as we know it, according to industry players.

"We're approaching an on-ramp that reads The Future of Mobility: Last Exit," Thomas said Sunday. "Who among us will miss it?"

He's not wrong on the transformation of the car and its role in Detroit's resurgence. General Motors Co. has already invested billions in driverless technology and ride-hailing services, including starting its own called Maven. Ford has done much of the same. The state is well-positioned to be the global leader in testing these new technologies, politically and structurally as more test beds come on line this year and in the coming years.

But, here, the Detroit auto show will serve as the bellwether. The Chevy Bolt won Car of the Year on Monday morning at the show and the Chrysler Pacifica won Utility Vehicle of the Year. It should come as little surprise that GM announced last month it started testing autonomous Bolts on local roadways. FCA and Waymo collaborated to make 100 autonomous Pacificas, which will begin public road testing in California and Arizona later this month.

Dustin Walsh/Crain's Detroit Business

New at the North American International Auto Show this year is AutoMobili-D, which features 120,000 square feet of dynamic displays in the Cobo Center Atrium. Attending executives, industry professionals and media will have the opportunity to experience advanced driver assist and autonomous vehicle functionality on a dedicated test track all in one building.

Automobili-D, open only to the industry and media members attending the show, is where the technologies needed to make the future a reality come to life. Exhibitors include the next steps of the burgeoning era of connected and driverless cars. For example, Northville engineering firm IAV, in a collaboration with Hewlett Packard Enterprise, is showing off CUPRA, also known as the "Cloud Car," which can communicate directly with the driver and surrounding motorists. Others displays include Visteon Corp., Covisint, Dassault Systemes, Flex, IBM and many more.

The programming for Automobili-D is focused on getting tech startups involved and where technology and the industry collide with speakers including Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Nissan Motor Corp., and executives from Techstars, GM, the government, Magna, Hitachi and dozens more.

It's unclear whether the showcase will reach the heights the show's organizers hope, whether it'll miss the mark or change the focus of the show forever. And it's only speculation whether mobility and the future of transportation is set to revolutionize business, travel and life. But it's certainly the talk of this year's show.